Page 24 of The Ocean's Heart
This was the moment I could claim an oath from him. A vow that would compel him to keep me alive, but my honor wouldn’t allow me to do it. I’d lied enough. So instead, I changed the topic of conversation. “What is this place? This island and the creatures on it.”
“We call them the lost because the knowledge of who they were and where they came from is lost in the chronicles of time. They call this the Cursed Isle due to the popular belief that the creatures native to it are in fact trapped here by a curse.”
“What kind of curse?”
“Nobody knows.”
I was intrigued now. “I wonder if we could find out.”
His eyes lit up, and a slow-burn smile painted his beautiful lips. “Curious little thing, aren’t you?”
No one had ever called me little before, and I had to admit that I liked it. Once again, I dropped my gaze, and it fell to the amulet around his neck. A silver trident.
“Pretty.” I lightly touched it, and I was sure that it glowed for a moment.
“It’s a family heirloom,” he said. “Passed down through generations from father to son. The stories say that it once held magic that would draw the monarch’s heart’s desire to him.”
“Heart’s desire?”
“His soul mate. The story says that the first kings were each given a gift from the moon for their service to the tides. A promise that their heart would always remain full, and with their gifts they each found true love.”
“Did you find yours?”
His expression closed off. “There are no such things as soul mates, Thalia. It is all a story, and this…this is merely an amulet.”
“But you had a queen once. A son and?—”
“Marriages do not always lead to love, especially for royals.” He winced. “Although I hope you find it with Dylon.”
“You could marry again? Find love?”
“You should sleep now.” His expression remained closed off. “We have a long trek ahead of us.” The conversation was over.
ChapterThirteen
VAARIN
Thalia is an idealist? She believes in soul mates, or at least she wants to. Is that what she hopes to get from Dylon? A band of guilt wraps around my chest. Dylon is handsome and charismatic, but his heart is fickle, and he flits from female to female. Will he give Thalia what she desires? Will he love her? Why does it matter so much to me?
I glance down at her sleeping form. She’s left her people and her home to forge an alliance with us, and I owe it to her to ensure that she is happy.
But will she be happy with Dylon?
I’ll kill him if he hurts her.
She moans softly in her sleep, and I hold her tighter, something warm and alien unfurling inside me. Exhilarating and yet frightening. I swallow the lump in my throat, my mind whirring. What is this feeling? Could it be….? No. I’m attracted to her, that is all. Her body. Her scent. Nothing more. It will pass.
It must.
* * *
It vexesme how well I sleep with the princess in my arms. I wake refreshed, her scent in my nose, her pliant body pressed to mine. Her face turned up toward me as if she’s offering me her lips for a kiss. I’m tempted to claim them. To taste her just once, and it takes all my will to extricate myself from the cage of her warm limbs and step out into the cold where the icy air can cool my ardor.
I feel her stir behind me before she speaks. “Time to move?”
I glance over my shoulder to see her propped on an elbow, hair cascading over her shoulders, eyes still heavy with sleep, and that mouth…that delectable mouth parted slightly.
I turn away and take a breath of icy air. “Yes, it’s time to go. There’s heavy winter clothing in the basket by the wall. Put it on. This isle is renowned for its blizzards, and one could hit at any time.”
